RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The start to 2025 has been a good one for the Yellowjacket women's hockey team. On the heels of sweeping a non-conference series at home against Concordia to close out 2024, the Yellowjackets proceeded to defeat Marian and UW-Stevens Point to win the Fondy Pot Invitational, then defeated Concordia on the road this past Tuesday.
 
The degree of difficulty went up a few notches Friday night, as the Yellowjackets opened a two-game series with UW-River Falls, the defending national champions and the No. 2 ranked team in the country.
 
And the Yellowjackets kept things close for more than half the game, but River Falls proved too strong in the end on this night, breaking a 2-2 tie late in the second period before pulling away with a four-goal third to defeat the Yellowjackets 8-2 at W.H. Hunt Arena in River Falls.
 
The loss is the first in over a month for the Yellowjackets (9-7-2, 1-4-0 WIAC), who had a five-game winning streak snapped. The streak was the longest for the Yellowjackets since they won six in row between Nov. 22, 2019 and Jan. 10, 2020.
 
Kailey Swerhun (Thunder Bay, Ontario/St. Ignatius) led the charge offensively for the Yellowjackets, scoring both goals to give her five on the season. The senior speedster is now one goal shy of tying her career.
 
In goal, Anna Maulson (Lac du Flambeau, Wis./Lakeland Union) made the start and finished the contes with 36 saves. Her record for the year falls to 3-4-1.
 
Game Notes

• Swerhun opened the scoring for the Yellowjackets. Taylee Marks (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Hammarskjold) started the play with a shot from the right point, and Swerhun, who was stationed near the top of the goal crease, propelled the puck past River Falls goaltender Jordan O'Kane at 7:56.
• River Falls tied the game when Bailey Olson scored her first of the night at 16:44 of the first.
• Olson put River Falls in front, scoring with a shot high on the short side just 1:02 into the second.
• At 7:57 of the second UWS tied it as Swerhun got a rebound near the goal and buried it. Jenna Hoops (Woodbury, Minn./Visitation School) and Gaby Andreacchi (Thunder Bay, Ontario/St. Patrick) assisted.
• Ellie Brice put the Falcons in front for good at 16:17 of the second, and Olson added insurance, completing the hat trick in the final minute of the second.
• In the third Olson scored on a power play at 3:21, her fourth of the game, to extend the lead.
• Meagan Goodreau added goals at 6:43 and 17:01 before Madison Lavergne closed out the scoring in the final minute.
• River Falls outshot the Yellowjackets 44-16.

The Yellowjackets are back home Saturday when they play host to UW-River Falls in the second game of their weekend home-and-home series. The opening faceoff is set for 2 p.m. at Wessman Arena.
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